Scott Powers
Orlando International Airport announced Monday evening it will close down early Tuesday morning in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane Dorian Tuesday and Wednesday.
Earlier airport officials had announced a closure for early Monday morning but rescinded that plan late Saturday night when Dorian slowed down enough to clear Monday of any potential hurricane impacts in Orlando.
In a statement released Monday evening, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority announced the airport will cease commercial operations at 2 a.m. Operations will resume subject to safe weather conditions, the statement said.
GOAA said it made the decision in close consultation with the National Weather Service, airlines and airport stakeholders, airport leadership has determined. Officials concluded it is in the best interest of the Orlando International Airport passengers .
Hurricane Dorian is projected to come close enough to the eastern Central Florida coast. Sustained tropical force winds are forecasted to impact portions of Orange County as early as Tuesday afternoon. A slight fluctuation westward by the storm could bring those tropical storm winds to all of Orange County.
Orlando Melbourne International Airport closed down Monday afternoon. Daytona Beach International Airport Orlando Sanford International Airport is set to close and cease operations at 11 p.m. Monday. Authorities there also said operations would resume when safe.
Previously, GOAA had announced the airport would shut down Monday morning, in an abundance of caution. With Hurricane Dorian’s projected track changing over the weekend toward largely sparing Florida, airport officials announced late Saturday night they have decided to not shut down operations at 2 a.m. Monday as had previously been decided.
